15 Canadian Iconic Meals to Try on Vacation

If you’re going to Canada, you’re in for a culinary adventure as varied and exciting as the country. The Maritimes’ rugged coastlines share space in Canada’s food scene with the busy streets of Montreal and Vancouver while staying true to tradition, bringing innovation and pride in all that is local.

Canada’s iconic dishes are bold, comforting, and full of character, so forget bland or predictable meals. These meals are sure to impress, whether you’re going sweet, savory, or both Canadians know how to celebrate food and you’re invited to the table!

Poutine

Poutine is a Quebecois masterpiece of comfort food. It consists of a warm plate of crispy fries, cheese curds, and rich velvety gravy smothering across it. The classic version is heavenly but modern variations might have pulled pork, smoked meat, or lobster toppings. Poutine is the most popular Canadian dish globally making it an absolute must-try.

Butter Tarts

Butter tarts are Canada’s crown jewels of desserts: sweet, flaky and unapologetically indulgent. These mini buttery, sugary goodness filled pies have been around since the early settlers of Ontario. One bite and you’ll be hooked, whether you prefer them with raisins or without (a subject of much Canadian debate).

Nanaimo Bars

This no-bake treat is named after the city of Nanaimo in British Columbia and consists of a coconut graham base, creamy custard, and chocolate topping. This is a dessert, as Canadian as maple syrup. Fun fact: A 1952 cookbook contains the first known Nanaimo bar recipe.

Tourtière

A holiday staple in Quebec, this savory pie is found year round in bakeries and cafes. Tourtière is a hearty reminder of Canada’s French roots: A flaky crust holds a filling rich with spiced ground pork, beef or game meat. It’s a dish that captures Canada’s seasonal spirit in one bite, says culinary historian Lenore Newman.

Montreal Bagels

Montreal bagels are not just bagels, they’re an experience. They’re boiled in honey water before baking in wood-fired ovens and are smaller, denser, and sweeter than their New York cousins. You can pair them with cream cheese or smoked salmon for the perfect breakfast or snack.

Peameal Bacon Sandwich

This quintessential Canadian sandwich is found at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market. It’s made with cured pork loin, rolled in cornmeal, and served on a Kaiser roll. It’s juicy, flavorful, and totally satisfying. This is local legend stuff for a sandwich!

Maple Syrup

While not a dish, maple syrup is often associated with Canada. It’s liquid gold that would leave you craving more if drizzled on pancakes, baked into cookies, or, poured over snow to make taffy. Canada produces 71% of the world’s maple syrup and Quebec leads the charge, producing 91% of the maple syrup in Canada.

Beaver Tails

No actual Beavers are harmed in the making of these treats! These Fried dough pastries shaped like a beaver’s tail, topped with everything from cinnamon sugar to Nutella and bananas are called Beaver Tails. They are the ultimate street food snack.

Split Pea Soup

Split pea soup is a warm, hearty staple of French Canadian cuisine with yellow peas, pork, and a mélange of vegetables. On a cold day, it’s comfort in a bowl. It traces back to early settlers who would make this during the colder seasons.

Cedar-Planked Salmon

This is a simply cooked salmon on a cedar plank. This smokey, woodsy flavor is from the Pacific Northwest, and was pioneered in Canada by indigenous communities forming a staple of West Coast cuisine.

Bannock

Bannock is a bread with Indigenous roots that can be baked or fried. It goes well with soups, stews, or jams, and is simple, but culturally significant. It represents several hundred years of Indigenous culinary tradition.

Ketchup Chips

Ketchup chips are a quirky Canadian snack that is a favorite among Canadians. These chips are tangy, sweet, and savory, which sounds strange, but try one bag and you’ll get it. Visitors buy these out to take home after a trip to Canada, proving how delicious this flavor is.

Smoked Meat Sandwich

Smoked meat sandwiches are an art form in Montreal. It’s a deli classic of layers of succulent, spiced beef brisket piled high on rye bread with mustard. The best version is at Schwartz’s Deli, which has been around since 1928.

Donair

The savory wrapped spiced meat, fresh vegetables, and signature sweet garlic sauce is a Halifax-born delicacy. This late-night favorite is evidence that Canada can put their spin on a global delicacy to give it a unique Canadian flair.

Canadian Lobster

There is nothing quite like the taste of freshly caught Canadian lobster. You can get these delicacies Steamed, grilled, or baked into a bun. This is a treat from Canada’s coastal bounty.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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